Gravel Driveway Maintenance and Repair Tips

Who doesn't love the look of a sparkling, fresh, new gravel driveway 🇺🇸? You did your research, hired professionals, created a project, and executed it. Now, what?

Unfortunately, owning a gravel driveway is not a walk in the park — the project doesn't end when the last shovel is stowed away after installation. If you want your driveway to keep shining, you'll have to take good care of it, refill it regularly, repair problems, and follow good habits to avoid further issues. Fret not: we are here to tell you exactly how to maintain a gravel driveway, so you don't have to worry!

In this guide, we will see:

• How to maintain a gravel driveway;
• How to fix a gravel driveway; and
• How to keep gravel in your driveway.

Every human-made construction needs maintenance, but there are a few reasons why a gravel driveway is particularly prone to developing issues:

• Loose surface — The surface of a gravel driveway isn't fixed in place like asphalt 🇺🇸 or concrete 🇺🇸. The particles can be moved over time, which leads to thinning, particularly in the most used areas (for example, where you drive your car or walk frequently).
• Dust and fine particles — The dust and fine particles present in the gravel are even more likely to disappear over time, as these can be blown away by the wind, exposing the remaining stones.
• Weather and erosion — Most driveways aren't covered by a roof; therefore, they are always exposed to the elements — rainfall can wash the stones away (especially on slopes), while freeze-thaw cycles can lead to loosening the layer below the gravel, making it sink and creating potholes.
• Weeds — Seeds can settle in gravel very easily, so weeds will grow quite regularly, destabilizing the surface. Fallen leaves trap moisture, promoting this growth.

Have we convinced you that maintaining your driveway is a good idea? Great! Let's get it rolling! 🪨

Day-to-day maintenance

Gravel driveway maintenance starts with routine tasks, which require attention almost daily. If done regularly, these don't take much time and can certainly prevent minor issues from becoming big repairs.

1. Rake gravel back into thinning spots

   As we have already mentioned, the stones can move around over time. It is best to stop them in their tracks before they roll down the street and out of our driveway — grab a landscaping rake and put them back where they belong!

2. Weed 'em out

   Weeds are not only aesthetically unpleasant but can also cause significant issues. Their roots displace the soil, creating potholes. You can prevent this by removing weeds regularly before they spread their roots.

3. Don't leave the leaves lying around

   Leaves can effectively trap moisture between the stones. This can lead to the formation of soft spots, which will sink under the weight of a car, for example, and create a favorable environment for more weeds to grow.

How to keep gravel in the driveway

This is one of the biggest frustrations: you spend so much money on a load of stones, thinking that they will stay there forever. Then, one day, you wake up, look at your driveway, and wonder how stones can just disappear into thin air.

Don't worry, it's not thieves nor aliens — it's normal for gravel to flow out of the driveway's edges. To stop this from happening, you can consider installing gravel grids (which will also prevent thinning) or at least reinforcing the edging so that the gravel doesn't spill onto your lawn (but you will still have to rake the stones back if thinning occurs).

If your aggregate is a mix of stones and dust, you can compact the surface of your driveway occasionally, keeping the particles in place for longer. If your driveway has a slope, remember to regrade the crown occasionally — it will prevent gravel washout.

Common repairs

Regular maintenance can prevent issues from occurring, but not forever — you will eventually come across a pothole or a washout. Let's take a look at how to do a gravel driveway repair:

• Potholes — If a pothole has formed in your driveway, you will first have to loosen the area, as it has probably compacted. Then, gradually refill with gravel, compacting everything lightly after each refill until the surface is level.

• Ruts — Ruts form differently than potholes. Instead of missing gravel, they happen when traffic pushes stones and dust to the sides, leaving low channels with raised edges. They usually follow the path of car tires, especially where vehicles often pull in and out.

  These trails are much more compact than potholes; to fix your gravel driveway, be sure to break up the base very well. Then, grab a rake and level everything off. You can add some gravel if needed, but this shouldn't be necessary for a rut repair.

• Washouts — Washouts happen mostly on slanted driveways. If you come across this issue, all you have to do is restore the slope, replace the missing gravel, and compact it to prevent the problem from occurring again.

Seasonal maintenance

Since the weather is the culprit in most situations, you probably imagine that extreme meteorological conditions can make things even worse.

Gravel is especially likely to be displaced and moved around in the winter, between freeze-thaw cycles and snow-plowing. If you must remove snow, make sure that you use raised snowblower skids or rubber-edged plows to avoid scooping gravel. You will also have to remember to compact and level off your gravel in early spring, as it will have probably sunk in due to freeze-thaw cycles.

In the spring, soft spots can occur due to frequent rainfall — compact and refill them promptly.

Summer brings high temperatures and sunshine, but this isn't necessarily good for your driveway. The drier the gravel and dust, the more likely it will be blown away. When it's hot outside, you should spray your driveway lightly with water to ensure that the fine particles stay in place.

In autumn, you have to be particularly careful not to let leaves lie around for too long. This will also alleviate the consequences of freeze-thaw cycles in the winter, as it reduces moisture.

Driveway issues are often way bigger than we might think: not only do they not look great, but they can also damage our vehicles or be a real threat to our health, as we could potentially fall down while walking over a pothole, for example. We should develop some good habits instead, so that we never have to worry.

Top up gravel periodically

Always keep enough gravel on the surface to stop potholes from developing — don't wait until the driveway is bare. Do this every 1-3 years and always remember to use the same type of gravel as during installation, or whatever grade is necessary to fix your problems.

Compact the surface

Compact the top layer of gravel after each refill, small or big, so that it stays in place longer.

Fix issues ASAP

Small issues can often become big trouble. Make repairs as soon as you notice them; don't wait until they become more than you can handle.

Regrade the surface

Reshape the slope of our driveway once or twice a year, preferably in early spring and late summer.

Check the edges

If you haven't installed any edging reinforcement, check the driveway's edges every six months and fix any spillage.

A gravel driveway is a beautiful addition to any house, but it requires more attention than concrete or asphalt. With the right maintenance routine, it can last for decades. Remember your day-to-day upkeep, seasonal maintenance tasks, and all the good habits that we have seen.

Gravel driveway maintenance isn’t just about appearance; it's about your and your family's safety and protecting your investment. With these tips, you will be able to recognize issues early on and take care of them in time.

Your driveway will thank you!